Chapter 437

Lu Yuan stared coldly at Lei Ling, "You think you can rely on the Phoenix Feather to roam the world? How pathetic."

Lei Ling gritted his teeth in anger, but a sense of despair welled up in his heart.

He had been utterly defeated by a young cultivator, and in his view it was an humiliation he could not accept.

At that moment, the Phoenix Feather in Lu Yuan's hand suddenly released a bright beam of light.

Lu Yuan smiled faintly; he had discovered where the true power of the Phoenix Feather lay.

On the battlefield, Lei Ling's scorched odor grew ever stronger, and he found himself in a desperate strait of his Foundation Establishment cultivation.

He wanted to flee this world, but before Lu Yuan he appeared utterly powerless.

Lu Yuan's eyes flashed with a hint of resolve; he drew a deep breath and continued to unleash his spell.

The Phoenix Feather immediately began to emit scorching flames, surrounding Lei Ling.

Lei Ling felt excruciating pain all over, yet he did not relinquish his resolve to resist.

He gritted his teeth and mustered his whole body's strength to erupt.

However, the more Lei Ling struggled, the more helpless he became, suffering ever greater suppression as the flames grew fiercer.

Finally, beneath the rapidly spreading flames of the blazing sea of fire, Lei Ling's figure grew indistinct.

But Lu Yuan had no intention of killing him; he instantly withdrew the Phoenix Feather from his hand, the sword intent remaining fierce.

He turned his head to the crowd, revealing a victorious smile. After defeating Lei Ling, Lu Yuan, Su Liyan, King Qi, and Gu Qingwan swiftly left the scene.

The disciples of the Golden Radiance Sect inside the cave-heaven watched their retreating backs, their faces grim to the extreme.

Lei Ling's death was an unprecedented blow to the Golden Radiance Sect; everyone knew the Demonic Cult would surely retaliate with all its might.

At this brink of explosion, they had no choice but to face a dire situation.

Inside the cave-heaven all was silent; only the Golden Radiance Sect disciples withdrew helplessly.

They knew this defeat was huge and hopeless, and everyone lamented how the gods of fate toyed with them.

Just then, Lu Yuan and the three others passed through a hidden tunnel set into the cliff wall, steadily arriving outside the cave-heaven.

Ahead lay an endless range of fire mountains, thick smoke billowing up, the air reeking of scorching heat and gunpowder.

"We must leave this place at once!" Lu Yuan solemnly urged the group.

Although they had won the battle, they could not be careless; the Demonic Cult's retaliation could strike at any moment, so they must quickly find a safe place to rest and recover their strength.

Following Lu Yuan's lead, everyone proceeded cautiously onward.

They traversed a sea of fire, running forward without a moment to catch their breath.

Flames raged around them, scorching gusts howling past.

Lu Yuan felt the fire wave sweep over him; he hastily summoned the Heavenly Gang Thunder Fire Sword, tracing a powerful energy shield before him.

Su Liyan lifted the Ice Crystal Long Whip, waving in midair a wall of cold energy, standing shoulder to shoulder with Lu Yuan.

King Qi firmly gripped the Demon-Breaking Golden Wheel; countless sigils on the wheel were continually etched onto his body, forming a heavy protective barrier.

Gu Qingwan sat cross-legged on the ground; the Phoenix Fire Lotus Basin in her hand emitted a brilliant light, transforming into a shield that encircled her.

The group made use of their respective spells and treasures, cooperating closely to counter the unpredictable flames assaulting them from all sides.

They acted as one, their steps perfectly in sync, never straying far from each other.

The fire mountain range finally waned, the ground gradually shifting from fiery red to dry and rock-covered.

Everyone exhaled in relief, knowing they had escaped that perilous place.

"Where do we go next?" Su Liyan scanned the group and posed the question.

Lu Yuan gave a faint smile: "We're heading to the Deep Sea Ice Realm."

Upon hearing that name, Gu Qingwan's eyes flashed with a hint of excitement.

The Deep Sea Ice Realm is a cold and mysterious place, long renowned as a holy land for cultivators' practice.

There, chill permeates the air, and the spiritual qi of heaven and earth is even more abundant.

King Qi silently nodded in agreement.

The four of them, seeking to further cultivate their strength and achieve their individual goals, chose this place conducive to practice.

Lu Yuan led the group onward, treading across the vast sea upon water as light and soft as white snow.

Gradually they saw ahead vast sheets of floating ice, suspended on the sea surface, eternal and unchanging.

The ice realm drew nearer, and the group felt as if they had entered a mysterious world.

The cold was bitter beyond compare; the raging wind made breathing somewhat difficult. As Lu Yuan's party hastily stepped into the Deep Sea Ice Realm, they immediately felt the chill's invasion.

They proceeded across a tranquil and beautiful ice crystal lake, its surface completely frozen; the clear water reflected the magnificent snowscape around them.

In the white mist slowly rising beside the lake, Lu Yuan, Su Liyan, King Qi, and Gu Qingwan opened a mysterious passage, preparing to begin cultivation.

However, just as they were about to land, a stern shout rang out from the air: "Lu Yuan! You cannot escape!"

Everyone turned to look, seeing Lei Ling striding forward in a gold-red robe, emerging from the white mist.

His face was grim, his eyes filled with hatred and jealousy.

Close behind came two unfamiliar masters of the True Lord level—Immortal Crane True Lord and Purple Smoke True Lord.

Lei Ling, the leader of the Golden Radiance Sect, somehow managed to summon such powerful aid within this Deep Sea Ice Realm, causing Lu Yuan and the others to feel uneasy.

"Lei Ling! You dare to come stir up trouble for us!"

Lu Yuan shouted loudly, both hands gripping the Heavenly Gang Thunder Fire Sword, his aura bursting forth.

"Not bad! I will reclaim the Phoenix Feather and seize you little ones."

Lei Ling seethed with rage: "Today is your day of death!"

Immortal Crane True Lord and Purple Smoke True Lord stood behind Lei Ling; as they formed hand seals, a mysterious and potent immortal energy swirled between them.

Immortal Crane True Lord glimmered with silver-white light, a huge phantom of an immortal crane hovering in his hand; Purple Smoke True Lord had a veil of dim purple mist rising above his head, so that even the lake at dusk was shrouded, making the world hazy.

"Lu Yuan! We must hold them off!" Su Liyan clenched the Ice Crystal Long Whip, a burst of icy energy exploding from her body.

"That's right! We won't be defeated by them!" King Qi brandished the Demon-Breaking Golden Wheel, courageously facing the threat ahead.

Gu Qingwan restrained her usual aloofness, her eyes flashing with wit and resolve: "We four will work together!"

"No matter how strong the opponent, we must unite as one."

Lu Yuan raised his head to look at Lei Ling and the others, his face showing no fear.

He took a deep breath, steadied his heart: "We will win!"

"For freedom and justice, we will not retreat!" Lu Yuan gazed at Gu Qingwan's eyes, his heart filled with sympathy and respect.

He knew well Gu Qingwan's past experiences; although she always kept herself aloof from fame and profit, deep inside she hid endless anguish and torment. (End of chapter)